Sunday, September 24, 2023

TWENTY-FIFTH ORDINARY SUNDAY

(Isaiah 55:6-9; Philippians 1:20-24,27; Matthew 20:1-16)

The readings today are fairly well-known. The first is part of the fascinating chapter of the prophet Isaiah in which God describes his word as rain bringing life to the earth. It is said that the gospel parable has had the popularity of that of the Prodigal Son at certain times in history. And the second reading of the Letter to the Philippians gives one of the most intimate confessions of the apostle Paul. Let's leave it for another time to reflect on the gospel through the optic of the prophet.

In one sense it is nothing new that the Lord's ways are different from ours. After all, God is of a different order than us. In fact, it is absurd to try to compare ourselves with God. He is not a being among other beings like any other man or woman. He is the basis of all being. Therefore, when we talk about God, we always speak in an analogical way, which is to say, “something similar,” realizing that He is a mystery beyond our understanding. It is like how we talk about our dog “loving us” when it lies at our feet. Its display of affection in no way comes close to the love between a man and a woman who have given themselves to one another in a faithful marriage. Although we cannot come close to matching God’s goodness, Jesus still calls us to be like Him. In the Sermon on the Mount, he tells his disciples: “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).

With both the distinction between God and us and the command to imitate God in mind, we can examine the gospel. The story Jesus tells here meets the classic definition of a parable as a tale taken from ordinary living whose conclusion surprises in a way that causes the listener to reconsider his life. Certainly upon hearing the parable of the “Good Samaritan,” the Jews had to reconsider their attitude toward the Samaritans. The parable of “The Laborers in the Vineyard” works in the same way. As much as the workers employed in the early hours of the morning, we are surprised when they receive the same pay as those who worked only one hour. But that's how God is - more generous than can be imagined. He is not unfair to anyone. He pays those hired in the morning the promised wage. But he has no qualms about treating others with great generosity.

This parable has been used to understand how the Greeks could inherit the Kingdom of God as much as the Jews who practiced the demands of the Law for centuries. It can also be used to explain how some born in solid families whose parents raised them with faith as well as love can have the same fate as some who, due to deficiencies in their upbringing, struggled to live just lives. However, the parable is open to another interpretation. It asks us to treat everyone with God's generosity whether they deserve it or not.

In our house sometimes someone leaves their dirty dishes in the sink. When I see them, I feel outraged because the person who left them should realize that everyone has the responsibility to clean their own dishes. This attitude is not necessarily unjust, but neither does it imitate God's ways. Certainly the saints would clean other people's dishes. Saint Martin de Porres, in fact, helped everyone, rich and poor, giving whatever he had without measure. All of us are called to do likewise by our acceptance into God’s family.

Being generous like God will demand a lot from us. But it's not impossible. With Jesus Christ as our model and companion we can fulfill the mandate. Present to us in the community of faith, Jesus supports us in the struggle. And in the Eucharist, he strengthens us to do hard things.

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